Disco Elysium Cuno Guide: Choices Explained

Only in 2019’s Game of the Year honored Disco Elysium, will players find themselves engaging with Cuno, a hyper, drug-addled, and manic 12-year-old boy, whose main hobby is chucking stones at a hanging corpse. Speaking to Cuno alone is a challenge in itself, with his natural distrust of the police and the venomous Cunoesse nearby to back him up and can rush you straight to pure ego death if you can’t take the incessant bullying. 

In this guide, we’ll explain how best to deal with Cuno, the right ways to talk to him, how to curb his drug habits, and see if it truly is worth punching a child (in a video game).

What Is The Best Way To Talk to Cuno?

The natural assumption for any interaction with children is to treat them with care, nurture them, and help them find their own voice. Cuno on the other hand, already has a voice. A very loud one. One that will repeatedly call you a pig and *worse*, so get used to the Cuno. 

To unlock as many side tasks as possible, the best way to talk to Cuno is by following these general tips: 

• Ask him about his name, which will lead to the opportunity to punch him.

• “Figure out what’s up with this kid” via an Empathy check to build rapport with Cuno.

• Check out his home and refuse to give him any further amphetamines.

• Let him watch the corpse autopsy and help find the bullet in the courtyard.

• Tell Cuno you liked the pig head in his shack.

• Choose dialogue options that lead Cuno away from his drug-filled lifestyle.

• Encourage his artistic side with the Conception skill.

Do not apologize to Cuno, thank him, or belittle him in any way, as this will hinder your chances due to his massive pride, and childlike and toxic facade. Avoid forcing any points of view on him, don’t express Cunoesse is a bad influence, and most certainly, do not attempt to shoot Cunoesse when attempting to shoot the body down. Not only will this ruin your chances of furthering Cuno’s story, but if you do actually choose to kill Cunoesse it will lead to a unique game over screen.

If you absolutely must know what happens if you shoot Cunoesse, watch the video below instead.

Is Punching Cuno Worth It?

Only once in a very long time will a piece of interactive media or video game enter your life and make a good case in favor of punching an irritating kid. But that’s Disco Elysium for you, and it can surprisingly be very worth your while to punch Cuno, as it will amount to some massive respect from him. 

You’ll be offered the chance to punch Cuno after initially asking him about his name, after which the conversation will spiral into Cuno and Cunoesse loudly yelling that they’re being assaulted by the pigs. If you choose to punch Cuno, you’ll need to pass a challenging Physical Instrument check.

If you opt out of punching Cuno, it will make it harder for you to earn his respect later. Alternatively, if you actually took a swing and missed, you’ll need to buy the kid some cigarettes to pay your dues. So, all in all, if you can pass the check to punch him, it’s absolutely worth it.

Should You Give Cuno The Drugs Or Save Him?

Once you’ve become pals with Cuno, he’ll tell you about his dad being a major supplier of some drugs, located in Cuno’s home in the Capeside Apartments. To find them, grab the boltcutters from the toolbox in Kim’s car, and head to number 12 in the apartment building. 

You’ll find the drugs inside Cuno’s house and can choose whether to return them to him or not - a true moral quandary. You’ll be warned of this being a major decision: 

• Don’t give the drugs - Nothing happens, except for Cuno not liking you as much.

• Give the drugs - If Kim ends up in the hospital after the Tribunal event, you can recruit Cuno as a partner to help you finish off the investigation and unlock the achievement “Recruit Detective Kuuno de Ruyter”.

By recruiting the troubled kid, you can effectively save Cuno from his difficult life, or at least put him on a less chaotic path by taking him under your wing. During the final debriefing, after the investigation is all but done, you can offer Cuno the chance to take up the life of a junior officer, which doesn’t net you anything but the satisfaction of leading him away from a dangerous, drug-filled life.

For more help within the district of Martinaise, check out our various Disco Elysium guides, including our best Disco Elysium build.

For more Disco Elysium news, be sure to check out our dedicated section or take a look at some of our Guides & Tutorials just below:

TIER LISTS -

Best Disco Elysium Build And Starting Stats | Best Thoughts Tier List

GAME GUIDES -

How to Fast Travel | How Many Days In Disco Elysium | Where To Sleep On Day 1 and How To Sleep For Free | How To Find Your Gun & Get It Back | How To Get The Body Down | Cuno Choices Explained | Where To Find Ruby | Can You Romance Kim & Other NPCs | How to Solve the Egg Head Puzzle | Should You Arrest Klaasje? | Should I Internalize All Thoughts? | Should I Help Evrart Claire? | Should I Take Evrart's Novelty Cheque | Should I Take Speed? | Should I Take the Hanged Man's Boots? | Should I Shave My Beard Or Not? | Should I Report My Badge Missing? | All Disco Elysium Endings, Explained |